If you're new here, this is my monthly(-ish) letter for all my favorite peeps. Welcome—I'm so glad you're here! If this was forwarded to you by a friend, you can subscribe below for some hope delivered straight to your inbox!

While recording an upcoming interview with Sandy Cooper, she asked me if “all hell broke loose” while writing Seen as it did with Graced. It didn’t. This time it came during the publication stage.

Just as I was finishing up the final drafts, and deciding on the cover image and fonts, and the billion little decisions that you make just before a book goes to print, I had a very painful conversation with someone I dearly love. It’s the kind of conversation that leaves you without words, but with a cavernous pit in your stomach. The point here isn’t the conversation. It’s the comfort God gives in moments like this.

The conversation happened on the beach, under the most amazing sunset sky. God painted the heavens with every color of the rainbow. And just as the sun dipped below the surface of the ocean, an orangey-yellow crescent moon began to shimmer and reflect on the waves as they lapped the shore. We couldn’t leave. It was just too beautiful.

We talked until the stars came out. I laid my beach chair back and stared up at the vast expanse of stars against an ink-black canvas. In that moment of feeling utterly helpless, God reminded me who He is. “I made all of this. I tell these ocean waves where to stop. I call out every star by name and direct them where to stand. I’m big enough for this too.” It wasn’t audible, but it stilled my pounding heart.

I feel so powerless. I cannot rescue, protect, or shield my loved one. But they cannot outrun my prayers. The God who paints the sky and calls out the starry host is pursuing them with His steadfast love and faithfulness.

What in your life feels out of control? What news have you heard recently that you wish you could un-hear? What has you ugly crying on the shower floor? Even in this, God sees you. He knows you, and He will carry you through it. Even when we feel like things are falling apart, He who holds the world together is holding us too.

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Deuteronomy 33:27 (NIV)

portable watercolor paint set

Thanks to my mom, I’ve developed a love for watercolor painting. It’s fun, relaxing, and I refuse to feel pressured to create something perfect! A few years ago, my daughter snuck one of my favorite-ever gifts into my Christmas stocking—this adorable portable paint set. It fans out with over 40 colors and comes with 3 brushes that hold water in them. That part at the top serves as a washable “eraser”.

I’ve brought it on trips and used it on airplanes! I’ve even brought it to the beach. It doesn’t take batteries or need to be charged 😉. I love to create simple cards that I can send via snail mail 🐌! I use these simple brown envelopes and this paper. Just fold it in half and it fits perfectly in the envelope.

What is a hobby you have, and do you have any favorite finds to go with it?

ditch the book!

I have this habit—it’s a good habit. I like to finish what I start. But sometimes this can be taken too far. Like when I’m chapters into a book that I’m really not enjoying but I keep begrudgingly picking it up to slog through yet another chapter.

I was recently lamenting the growing pile of half-read books on my nightstand when my son said something that caught me off guard. Something I might have figured out, but somehow haven’t yet.

“Life is too short to read books you don’t like.”

That simple statement set me free! In the past few months I’ve put FOUR books into the “get rid of” pile. I will cart them off to my used bookstore and hopefully come home with something I want to finish. I feel a little rebellious—which suits me just fine!

If you, like me, need permission to put down that book you just keep hoping will get good—permission granted!

Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer

by Tyler Staton

This book has been recommended to me over and over… so when I recently spotted this at my local used bookstore, I snatched it up for less than five dollars!

After attempting at least four other books on my nightstand, I began to wonder if I was becoming a book snob. Midway through my stack was this book. With my newfound freedom to stop reading books I don’t like, I started reading and my faith in modern-day writers was restored!

Staton takes a topic as simple and timeless as prayer and makes me want to drop everything and fall to my knees.

Favorite quotes:

“Jesus hasn’t revealed a God we can perfectly understand, but he has revealed a God we can perfectly trust.”

“A maturing community is a confessing community - not a church without sin, but a church without secrets.”

Seen: How God Pursues the Overlooked and Uninvited

by Teresa Whiting

YESSS!!!! 😉

YOU GUYS!!!! It has been a little over a year that I’ve been telling you about this study. You’ve walked this long road of writing and publishing with me and this book is about to make its way into the world!!!

Over these past few weeks, I’ve read it, reread it, and practically memorized it. I’m planning for a publication date of September 8 (only a year and a week later than I’d originally hoped 🤪).

I cannot wait to offer it to you—you’ll be the first to know when it becomes available!

Coming back soon… On September 8, I’m planning to share all about Seen! The next week will begin the Shalom Series. Shalom is so much more than peace. It’s flourishing, wholeness, and beauty—it’s what we were made for. Yet we seldom experience it. This series will look at what shalom really is, what disrupts it, and how to move back toward it. Make sure you’re following Beauty in the Brokenness.

Follow on Apple Follow on Spotify Subscribe on YouTube

September 12 The Women: A One-Day Conference — St. Petersburg, FL
My home church, Fifth Avenue Baptist, is partnering with Steady On Live for a one-day conference.

We are bringing together some of my favorite Bible teachers—Angie Baughman, Sandy Cooper, Mary K. Tiller, and Jenny Zentz. Together, we’ll share the stories of women in the family line of Jesus—and the God who saw them, chose them, and gave them a place in His story.

Local Florida peeps… I hope to see you there!
Come by yourself or bring a friend. You can register here.

September 25-26: LYFE Women’s Conference — Chattanooga, TN
October 3: Healing Power of Lament Workshop — Online
November 13-14: LYFE Women’s Conference — Northfield, OH

I’m currently scheduling speaking engagements for 2027. I’m excited about how God is opening doors for more women to encounter the beautiful redemptive work of Jesus in the midst of their broken stories. If you know of a church or ministry looking for a speaker, I’d love to get a conversation started. Hit reply and send me her contact info, and I’ll take it from there!

Thanks for always hanging with me to the end, my friend.

♥️ Teresa

PS: Next time you see me, ask me about the homeless guy 😂.

If you're new here, this is my monthly(-ish) letter for all my favorite peeps. Welcome—I'm so glad you're here! If this was forwarded to you by a friend, you can subscribe below for some hope delivered straight to your inbox!

holding onto real

I love July! Not only because of JOMO (read this post for more), but because it includes a trip with some of my favorite people to one of my favorite places—my sister’s lake house in NH. My family has been coming to this lake since the year I was born.

It’s everything summer should be: early morning stillness on a glassy lake, watermelon on the beach, slamming screen doors and barefoot toes, swimming the lake, picking wild blueberries, and sun-kissed faces gathering in a crowded kitchen to help with dinner prep. It’s after dinner walks, sunset boat rides, and games around the table. It’s paddle boarding around the island, building campfires with flint and steel, deep conversations, and climbing Mount Monadnock.

Whenever we arrive, we stick our heads out the car windows just to immerse ourselves in the scent.

It’s the scent of real. We touch the earth, stare up into the heavens filled with countless stars, walk along the dirt road, fill our lungs with the scent of pine, and swim in crystal clear waters.

Our annual trip is beautiful, and sweet, and I am incredibly blessed to be part of it. And also, things have changed. They are not what they were when the kids were young. Relationships have shifted—in ways that are both necessary and painful.

It would be easy for me to paint this as an idyllic vacation. And it is. But at the same time, every single person there was also holding some sort of grief. Isn’t that also real? To carry both joy and pain in any given moment?

One day—one glorious day—it will be all joy and no pain, all glory and no sorrow, all beauty and no brokenness.

We cannot go back and recreate the past. We cannot know what the future will hold. But for now, in this fallen world, let’s squeeze every drop of joy out of life that we can, and hold it in our hearts. Right alongside everything else that is real.

blueberry breakfast bread

Ok, let’s be honest. It’s actually called Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake, but calling it “bread” somehow makes it feel healthier 😉. For the past 10+ years, this has been a summer staple, loaded with fresh-picked blueberries.

One of the best parts of NH is paddling out to “Blueberry Island” and filling our buckets with tiny, wild blueberries. The bushes grow all over the island, but the best crop is found by scaling the rocks along the edge—alternately balancing on your paddle board and the slippery rocks just below the water. It’s as much fun gathering the berries as it is making and eating the fruit of our labor!

You can find this recipe over at Alexandra’s Kitchen. I always double it and bake it in a 9X13, and it vanishes almost immediately! 😋

dinner table questions

I love the big dinners we share together… the crowded kitchen—everyone sun-kissed and soggy, the spread of summer foods, the dinner bell clanging for those still sitting by the lake, or resting up in their rooms. But by far, the best part is the conversation we share.

When we are all finally seated around the big wooden table on the porch, someone asks a question and we all answer. The questions can be funny, serious, thought-provoking…

• What is an accomplishment you are proud of from the past year?

• If you could make up a holiday, what would it be, when would it be celebrated? What foods or traditions would go with it?

• If your life was represented by a traffic sign, which would it be and why?

• What are you looking forward to/working toward and what are you learning/enjoying along the way?

Do you have any great dinner questions I can keep in my pocket for next year? Share them in the comments!

Writing Off Social: The Reset: A Guided Social Media Break for Writers

by Sandy Cooper (Author), Mary K. Tiller (Editor)

Sandy and Mary K. have put together a resource that includes relatable stories, evidence-backed research and industry experts, Scriptural guidance, thoughtful questions, practical application steps, and beautiful prayers. It also includes plenty of lines for journaling.

“What you pay attention to shapes who you become.”

“The mental preoccupation [of social media] is maddening and all-consuming.”

Even if you are not a writer, if you struggle in any way to control digital distractions from the things you’d rather be doing 🙋🏽‍♀️, I highly suggest The Reset.

The Frozen River: A Novel

by Ariel Lawhon

My sister, an avid reader and host of a 10-years running book club told me this is one of the few books that earned 10/10 stars from every woman in the club! And I can totally see why.

Lawhon’s writing is beautiful and descriptive (but not fluffy). The storyline is compelling and the characters strong. I started reading it on my almost last day in NH and read it my whole travel day. And honestly, if I weren’t writing this, I’d be finishing it up right now!

If you’re looking for a great novel, this one gets my resounding YESSS!!!!

Seen: How God Pursues the Overlooked and Uninvited has been in the works for almost two years now. It’s with the formatter, preparing to be finished! And you are one of the first to get a peek at the introduction…

Dear friend,

Do you feel it? The desperate longing to be seen and known? The heart-cry that says, “See me! Notice me! Tell me I’m worthy of your time and attention!” What if I told you someone already has their eyes fixed on you with unfailing love and perfect faithfulness?

I wrote this study for every woman who has ever felt overlooked, rejected, dismissed, or discarded. If you’ve ever endured the sting of being the last one chosen, or the one left out; if you’ve lived in the shadows or fled to your own wilderness—just like Hagar—God has come looking for you. No despair is too deep, no wilderness too vast. He has heard your prayers, seen your tears, sought you out, and called you by name.

He is the God Who Sees you. The One who, even now, is pursuing your heart with lovingkindness and compassion.

I pray that through this study you will grow in friendship with biblical women whose lives reveal the heart of a God who passionately pursues the overlooked and invisible. Through their stories of lament and longing, of tragedy and transformation, of freedom and hope, the women of UnSeen are inviting you into a beautiful belonging.

Because of Jesus, may you know in the depths of your heart, “I am seen. I am known. I am loved.”

♥️ Teresa

I can’t wait to share more as we approach the launch!

I stepped back from the podcast in July, but am excited for what's next—a new series launching in September! If you love listening to Beauty in the Brokenness, make sure you are following so you don’t miss anything.

Follow on Apple. Follow on Spotify. Subscribe on YouTube

I have a few events coming up for the remainder of 2026, and I would LOVE to see you at one of them!

September 12 The Women: A One-Day Conference — St. Petersburg, FL
This one's close to my heart—we're exploring the women in Jesus's genealogy and what it means to discover your place in His story, even when your story doesn't look like you expected. Register here.

September 25-26 LYFE Women’s Conference — Chattanooga, TN
October 3 Healing Power of Lament Workshop - Online
November 13-14 LYFE Women’s Conference — Northfield, OH

That’s it for this month. Thank you for walking through these stories with me—I always feel like I’m catching up with a dear friend. I’d love to know what you’re holding right now. Whether it’s joy or grief or both, you’re not carrying it alone.

♥️ Teresa

If you're new here, this is my monthly(-ish) letter. Welcome—I'm so glad you're here! If this was forwarded to you by a friend, you can subscribe below for some hope delivered straight to your inbox!

Do you feel it?

The inner angst? The constant pull of your phone? The frustration of time wasted mindlessly scrolling? Opportunities missed? Sleep lost?

Our phones interrupt sacred moments, diminish critical thinking skills, and keep us anxious with the latest news. They cause us to trade empathy for self-absorption, peace for anxiety and deep thought for sound bites. If you’re anything like me, you’ve fallen down an online rabbit-hole, only to look up and realize hours have passed.

I’m inviting you to join me in making an intentional change. It may be unnerving to think about limiting your screen time. But it isn’t as scary as the thought of the life in front of us passing right by without our notice.

If any of this resonates, today’s podcast episode is for you!

🎧 Listen & subscribe on your favorite platform:
Apple | Spotify | YouTube

Also available on my website: teresawhiting.com/listen

a little device to help you take back your time

I have fantasized about throwing my phone in the ocean or out my car window. I even switched to a flip phone for forty days in 2024. However, it is nearly impossible to function in today’s world without a smartphone.

But I think I’ve found the next best thing! The Brick.
(No, it’s not a brick to smash my smartphone to pieces—though I’ve been tempted to do that at times. 😂)

It’s a physical device that temporarily removes distracting apps and their notifications from your phone—as you choose. The Brick gives us the best of both worlds: the ability to block out distractions, while still keeping essentials like Maps, FaceTime, and family group chats.

If you also feel a strong desire to spend less time on your phone—but still need it to function in the 21st century—you’ve got to get one of these. When my phone is “bricked”, I’m free from googling random things, checking my email at red lights, and mindlessly scrolling.

Use this link for 10% off 😉!

Join me for JOMO in July!

What is it? One MONTH of freedom from the constant connection. One month to step away from your screens and the endless input. It’s a month to reflect, reclaim your time, and evaluate the use of your one, precious life.

It’s a month of Less and More…
Less distraction…More focus
Less mental clutter…More quiet
Less restlessness…More peace
Less noise…More stillness
Less distance…More connection
Less screen time…More presence
Less comparison…More contentment
Less enslavement to technology…More freedom to live the life in front of you

I do best with clear boundaries. So, I’ve created 2 helpful resources for you. Take the ideas that work for you and leave the rest!

Download 24 Ways to Break Up With Your Phone.

Join the JOMO in July challenge. It’s filled with helpful guidelines for those who thrive on structure 🙋🏽‍♀️.

What to do with all that time you’re about to free up? Read one of these great books ⬇️

Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age

by Brett McCracken and Ivan Mesa

I listened to this on Hoopla, and compared to the other books this month, it felt more academic and theological. The authors come from a Biblical worldview, and challenge Christians about how to responsibly engage our tech-saturated world.

How then do we tell Christian truth to people in the age of show business, and now the age of scrolling?

The net seizes our attention only to scatter it. - Quoting Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains.

Bored and Brilliant

by Manoush Zomorodi

Boredom is the gateway to mind-wandering, which helps our brains create those new connections that can solve anything from planning dinner to a breakthrough in combating global warming.

Dopamine, the neurotransmitter that records certain experiences in our brain (typically described as pleasurable) and prompts us to repeat them, plays a part not only in sex and drugs, but also the swiping and tapping we do on our smartphones.

Zomorodi provides scientific evidence, as well as practical tips on how to embrace boredom as a path to brilliance!

Books like these back up what we feel but might not be able to articulate: less screen time is good for our brains and bodies.

Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life

by Shauna Niequist

Ever since I read my first book, I’ve been a fan. Her writing feels like you’re sitting around in your comfy clothes, talking to a good friend. Cold Tangerines (2007) is her first book, but even then, she could take the most ordinary stories and make them feel like sacred moments. (She often has me laughing and crying on the same page.)

This is it, in the best possible way. That thing I’m waiting for, that adventure, that movie-score-worthy experience unfolding gracefully. This is it. Normal, daily life ticking by on our streets and sidewalks, in our houses and apartments, in our beds and at our dinner tables, in our dreams and prayers and fights and secrets - this pedestrian life is the most precious thing any of us will ever experience.

Everything is interim. Everything is a path or a preparation for the next thing, and we never know what the next thing is. Life is like that, of course, twisty and surprising.

September 12 The Women Conference - St Petersburg, FL
September 25-26 LYFE Women’s Conference - Chattanooga, TN
October 3 - Learning to Lament Workshop - Online on Zoom
November 6-7 LYFE Women’s Conference - Northfield, OH

I hope you’ll join me in taking steps to quiet the space in your head and heart for the next 31 days.

Quick links for the skimmers 😉:
24 Ways to Break Up With Your Phone.
JOMO in July challenge

See you on the other side!

♥️ Teresa

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens.
—Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)

Hey friend—this episode is one of those catch-up sessions. If I had it my way, you and I would be sitting down at a cute little place, enjoying an açaí bowl, or better yet, taking a long walk on the beach 😉.

I’m sharing what I’m loving, learning, lamenting, leaning into, and letting go of. Because sometimes we just need a minute to talk about ALL. THE. THINGS.

🎧 Listen & subscribe on your favorite platform:

Apple | Spotify | YouTube

Also available on my website: teresawhiting.com/listen

We Discuss:

• The power of presence

• A regular practice I need to re-learn

• The cultural lie I’m done believing

• Finding beauty in the brokenness

• Something we all need to let go of

• Coming soon…JOMO in July 🙌🏼

Here are a couple of the resources I mentioned. If you’re looking for all the links visit this page.

I’ve been using The Resilient Soul by as my Bible study lately and it has been life-giving, challenging, and kicking my spiritual butt! (in the gentlest way possible 😉)

I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet by has given me permission to be a beginner. If you haven’t read any of her books lately… you’re missing out. I always say, “I want to write like Shauna when I grow up!”

And the book I need to order next is How to Love Your Mornings by Jennifer Dukes Lee!

What is something you are loving, learning, lamenting, leaning into, or letting go of right now? I’d love to know!

Leave a comment

Thanks for being the kind of person I’d love to walk the beach with. One of these days we actually need to do that.

♥️ Teresa

PS: Are you subscribed to my monthly email? If not, you can hit subscribe or sign up here.

"Hospitality literally means welcoming the stranger.
You really don't know how this is going to play out, but you take the risk anyhow."
— Mark Buchanan

This summer, I’m doing a couple of fun episodes to share great summer reads. You guys, this one is a must-read!

Do you ever wonder what you would do if you were faced with the atrocities of WWII? I do. Would I have stood by as millions of innocent victims lost their lives at the hands of the Nazi regime? Or would I have been one of the brave souls fighting for their freedom—even at the risk of my own life?

Join me for a fascinating conversation with one of my favorite authors! Mark Buchanan’s newest novel is based on the true story of a tiny French village that sheltered over 2,500 Jewish refugees during World War II. In our conversation, Mark unpacks what motivated these ordinary people to choose radical hospitality over safety.

🎧 Listen & subscribe on your favorite platform:
Apple | Spotify | YouTube
Also available on my website: teresawhiting.com/listen

We Discuss:

• Ordinary people who made an extraordinary impact

• Radical hospitality

• Courage in dark times

• The difference between ideas and ideology

• The power of the gospel to disrupt our comfort

• Compassion versus self-protection

Mark Buchanan is the author of more than 12 books, a professor, a novelist, an avid outdoorsman, and an incredible conversationalist. But by the time we finished our conversation, I felt like I’d been talking with an old friend.

Connect with Mark:
Website: www.markbuchanan.net
Facebook: facebook.com/MarkAldhamBuchanan/
Mark’s books can be found here.

You can hear my first conversation with Mark (about his book The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath), here.

If you enjoy historical fiction, World War II novels, and rich, poetic writing, you will love What Is Left of the Night. He weaves a tale of intrigue, warped ideology, holy defiance, and powerful love into a story that challenges and encourages readers today. I had a hard time putting this one down. Though it tells the story of a very dark time in history, the writing is never explicit or hard to swallow — just beautifully, powerfully told.

How has the gospel disrupted your life?

What would it look like to practice biblical hospitality?

I pray, no matter what news comes your way today, you choose to worship our faithful God.

♥️ Teresa

"I believed that pornography was the problem and that I just needed to stop. What we quickly discovered was that pornography was the symptom."
— Nick Stumbo

Has your marriage been affected by sexual sin? Have you been stuck in addiction, or felt betrayed by your spouse's struggle with pornography? You are not alone. In this episode of Beauty in the Brokenness, I have an incredibly honest conversation with Nick Stumbo. Nick and his wife spent years in a painful cycle of sexual addiction, broken promises, and heartache — until they found real freedom and healing through Pure Desire Ministries.

These conversations are never comfortable, but they are always important. And this one offers so much hope!

Listen Now

Watch this episode on YouTube.

We Discuss:

• Why well-intentioned Christians can stay trapped in sexual addiction

• The difference between treating the symptom vs. the wound

• What it means to be truly seen — and why it changes everything

• Why the church has not always been a safe place for sexual brokenness

• Pornography and Christian women (the statistics will surprise you)

Nick has been in ministry leadership for over two decades. He was in pastoral ministry for 14 years and joined the Pure Desire Ministries team as the Executive Director in 2016. Nick is a certified Pastoral Sex Addiction Professional (PSAP) through the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP). He frequently speaks at churches and conferences around the world. He is passionate about his four children, a fan of the Minnesota Twins, and enjoys running in his free time.

Connect with Nick:
Website: https://puredesire.org/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/puredesireTV
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PureDesirePDMI/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/puredesirepdmi/

This isn't just another how-to book on trying to control your behavior. This is the story of redemption-how God redeems what has been broken and recreates something incredible in a man's heart.

Nick says pornography was the symptom, not the problem. What might God be asking you to look beneath in your own life?

When did you last feel truly seen — known fully and loved anyway? What made that possible?

If today’s conversation resonated with you, you are not alone. Visit puredesire.org to find groups, resources, and support for both the one who is struggling with sexual addiction and the betrayed spouse.

♥️ Teresa

PS: After sexual betrayal, women often fail to grieve the death of the marriage they thought they had. Lament is a way to honestly bring that grief to God as one form of personal healing. Our next Healing Power of Lament Workshop is this Saturday June 13 from 10am -noon EST.

You’ve seen the emails. Listened to the podcasts. You’ve thought it over. And you haven’t signed up.

I get it. It’s scary to face your pain. Who wants to spend two hours talking about grief?

Maybe you are tired of running from grief, hiding your tears, or stuffing your pain. Maybe you’re wondering:
“Why can’t I handle this?”
“Why haven’t I gotten over it yet?”
“What’s wrong with me?”

Friend, you weren’t meant to carry this alone.

Grief has no timeline.

And there is nothing wrong with you.

I’m sending out this reminder because there is so much grief right now. It seems like everyone I know is carrying a heartbreak, disappointment, tragedy, or loss of some kind. It's no wonder God gave us so many prayers of lament in Scripture. He knew we would need a way to bring our pain to Him.

Lament is simply the sacred practice of bringing our honest grief to God instead of carrying it by ourselves.

God never intended grief to be ignored, minimized, or carried alone.

If you’re ready to stop stuffing your sorrow, stop judging your tears, and learn a biblical way to process your pain, I’d love to invite you to join us. To keep the setting intimate, space is limited to a maximum of eight women.

Save My Seat

Saturday June 13, 2026
Meeting on Zoom
10am - Noon EST
$97

Brenda and I would be honored to walk beside you on this journey.

Whether you are grieving a loved one, a relationship, a dream, or a season of life, there is space for your grief and grace for your journey.

💛 Teresa

Save my seat

"To silence someone's life like that is just a devastating thing — and it has repercussions generationally."
— Erica Colahan

It's summer! And I'm doing a few different types of episodes this season—starting with a great summer fiction novel for those days at the beach or the pool, or sitting in a backyard hammock!

Today, I have a conversation with Erica Colahan, author of The Oystercatcher of Southwark. Erica shares the fascinating true story behind her historical fiction novel — a tale rooted in family legend and shrouded in mystery.

Erica grew up hearing rumors of her great-great-grandmother being committed to a 19th-century insane asylum. She opens up about the archives, the heartbreak, and how writing Mary's story helped her find her own identity and healing.

Listen Now

Watch this episode on YouTube.

We Discuss:

• The family legend Erica grew up hearing — and why no one talked about it

• How her great-great-grandmother Mary was committed to a 19th-century asylum

• Finding Mary’s name in a dusty ledger in the Philadelphia archives

• The real history behind the novel: the mafia, immigrant life, and star-crossed lovers

• Fact vs. fiction in the book

• How writing the story reunited two branches of a family separated for generations

• Erica’s personal healing from divorce — and what Mary’s story taught her about identity

• Book club resources available for free on Erica’s website

Connect with Erica:

• Website: www.ericacolahan.com

• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ericacolahan

• Substack Newsletter: https://thechroniclesoferica.substack.com/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erica.colahan/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechroniclesoferica

• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ericacolahan/

• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213985528-the-oystercatcher-of-southwark
  

As a descendant of Italian immigrants, I could not put this book down — I felt like I was reading my own family history! All four of my grandparents came from Italy to New York in the early 1900s. My grandfather, Nicholas Defonte, opened a sandwich shop near Red Hook in Brooklyn, where my mother and her eight siblings lived upstairs. And it still exists to this day!

If you’re ever in Brooklyn, make sure to stop by Defonte’s Sandwich Shop, and tell them “Aunt Fran” sent you!

Win a free copy of The Oystercatcher of Southwark! Head to Apple Podcasts, leave Beauty in the Brokenness a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review, screenshot it, and send it to me. I'll enter you in a drawing to win a copy sent right to your door. (Drawing to be held June 9, 2026.)

All the details are in the show notes at teresawhiting.com/listen.

Happy Summer 😎!

♥️ Teresa

If you're new here, this is my monthly(-ish) letter for all my favorite peeps. Welcome—I'm so glad you're here! If this was forwarded to you by a friend, you can subscribe below for some hope delivered straight to your inbox!

Hello friend!

As you know, these monthly-ish updates have been heavy on the ish side lately! Life has been full! My three youngest all decided to make job transitions at the same time. We’ve had family members coming and going nonstop for the past few months.

Bre is currently staying with us as she prepares to be a world traveler, Caleb has started training to go out for a special forces department of the military and Gab has moved from Florida to Hawaii (all within the last 10 days🌪️!)

Greg & I got to visit our grandsons for a few days (YAY 💚💙🧡) and I’ve had a couple of speaking engagements (hello Feather Sound and LYFE friends 🥰). Speaking is—aside from being with my family—my favorite thing to do!

Oh, and UnSeen is on its way to the formatter this week!!! I’m praying it will be in hand by August 1 🙏🏼.

As a writer and podcaster, I’ve been feeling so far behind—like I just can’t keep up with all the things… podcast episodes, emails, youtube. I have a group of the most amazing friends who understand this work. In a recent voxer message, in which I was reduced to tears, telling them how I feel so far behind, one of them reflected back to me what she heard me saying…

I’ve been able to help my children pack and move in the midst of their huge life transitions, I’ve visited my 91yo mom who got married and moved far from home, been able to go to the beach and have great conversations with my daughter, spend time with my grandchildren (and give my daughter and son-in-law a well-deserved getaway). I’ve been honored to speak at churches and conferences, and travel with my husband, and am involved in our church’s women’s ministry.

As she held up a mirror of my life, I wept. Because I am living my dream!! And I love it. And it’s exhausting. And I always feel two steps (or two miles) behind! So today, I’m giving myself (and giving you by association 😉) permission to live the life in front of you. Without feeling guilty, or behind, or like you’re letting people down. Maybe you are. But maybe you’re also lifting people up. Maybe in all the running, and traveling, or the staying-at-home, or the working, you also feel a sense that you’re behind.

What matters more than anything is that in all of it—Jesus is walking with you. He’s not scolding you, or kicking you in the pants. He is cheering you on, or maybe He’s carrying you. I spent this morning reminding myself that through it all, I am in the shadow of His wings. I pray that you find yourself there as well!

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.
My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
—Psalm 18:2

… in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. —Psalm 57:1

Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings. —Psalm 17:8

What about you? Are you able to extend kindness to yourself in crazy seasons? Do you remind yourself, that in the midst of it all, you are safely tucked in the shadow of God’s wings?

The Familiar Stranger: (Re)Introducing the Holy Spirit to Those in Search of an Experiential Spirituality

by Tyler Staton

Anyone God uses significantly is always deeply wounded. We are, each and every one of us, insignificant people whom God has called and graced to use in a significant way. On the last day, Jesus will look us over not for medals, diplomas, or honors but for scars. (Tyler quoting Brennan Manning’s book, Ruthless Trust)

Pain redeemed impresses me more than pain removed.

…even on the pages of the Bible, God’s native language is a whisper, and a whisper is hard to hear and easy to ignore. What if God is speaking to you far more than you realize?

I, for one, am not nearly as familiar with, or intimate with, the Holy Spirit as I want to be. I loved Tyler’s position as neither a cessationist, nor a sensationalist. He encouraged me and challenged me to become better acquainted with the Person dwelling within me.

The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine

by A. W. Tozer

This is one of those books I have returned to over and over. A. W. Tozer’s work always points my heart to Jesus with profound simplicity.

Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.

To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love.

The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort.

If you haven’t read any of his books, I encourage you to get a copy of The Pursuit of God. Or Knowledge of the Holy, or better yet, this combined volume: Three Spiritual Classics in One Volume: The Knowledge of the Holy, The Pursuit of God, and God’s Pursuit of Man.

Make Sense of Your Story: Why Engaging Your Past with Kindness Changes Everything

by Adam Young

I picked up this book at the library and couldn’t put it down for the first several chapters. It was like therapy in a book! I love that Adam encourages Christians to engage their family of origin stories with both honesty and kindness. I appreciate his perspective that our pasts are very much alive in our present.

The point of exploring your past is so that you can actually live in the present. (p 64)

God does not call you to get rid of your sorrow or your anger or your fear, God calls you to honesty about your sorrow, anger, and fear. (p 199)

I’m still not sure how I feel about this book. I think Adam Young has some important things to say. At the same time, I would read with caution. I think he takes some scripture out of context to make his points. So yes, read the book. But read with discernment.

avocado toast with a twist

Remember in my last email when I told you about the cutest little coffee shop I found? Well, aside from the blind dates with books that I fell in love with, I had the yummiest avocado toast ever. Then I came home and improved the recipe ever so slightly. If you love a nourishing, light, delicious meal… you might love this as much as I do!

Here goes:

1. Slice up a loaf of homemade sourdough into medium-thick slices and toast. (If you don’t make your own, you can usually get great sourdough at local farmers markets).

2. Spread a layer of goat cheese on the toast (this is the secret ingredient 😋).

3. Mash up half of a small avocado, and add a dash of fresh-squeezed lemon. Spread this over the goat cheese.

4. Add a few slices of tomato. (optional - unlike the goat cheese which is not optional IMO).

5. Sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning, and drizzle with balsamic glaze (not pictured).

Avocado toast - love it or hate it?? Any special tips I need to know?

morning whispers

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you wake up? Do you start running through the day’s activities? Do you rehash yesterday’s frustrating conversations? Do you wake up dreading what your day might hold or anticipating the goodness of God?

No matter your typical wake-up, I invite you to try this simple practice tomorrow morning. Before you reach for your phone, throw off the covers, or even turn on your favorite podcast (Beauty in the Brokenness 😉 ?), take a deep breath and whisper this prayer:

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.
Psalm 143:8 NIV (emphasis added)

Before your feet hit the floor, remind yourself that the God who holds the world together is holding you with His unfailing love. There is something steadying about starting our days with a reminder of God’s love and entrusting ourselves to Him.

You don’t have to use my verse. Choose one that’s meaningful to you. Write it on a 3x5 card and put it beside your bed. Or download these screensavers and commit to thinking about the words before swiping up.

Soon enough, these morning whispers will become a beautiful habit to begin your day.

June 13 Healing Power of Lament Workshop - Online
If you’ve been thinking about attending one of our lament workshops, there is no better time than right now to sign up. Life is heavy. Pain is real. And God has given us a way to process our grief. I recently read a quote by Lisa Appelo that I can’t get out of my head:

Before there was therapy, there was lament.
—Lisa Appelo

You know I’m all for therapy. But even more, I’m for learning to speak the language God has given for our pain and sorrow. This workshop will introduce you to one way to work through your grief toward hope and healing. Come and bring a friend!

September 12, 2026 The Women Conference at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church

Join me and four wonderful speakers for a day of encouragement, worship, and time in God’s Word! Keep your eye out for registration—opening soon!

I’d love to bring a Graced Gathering to you! (Currently booking for 2026 & 2027) If you know a church, camp, or other ministry looking for a spiritually rich, biblically rooted weekend of hope, healing, community, and connection, let’s connect!

Thanks for reading to the end, friend! I pray that this month, you will find yourself tucked closely under God’s wings, remembering His unfailing love for you, and finding contentment in the life right in front of you. Leave a comment and tell me where you are in this season. I read every single response.

♥️ Teresa

But actually… I am taking a short break from BOTH the podcast (and the weekly updates).

Why?

Because THIS. IS. ME. ⬇️

These past several months have included:

Moving to a new house
Writing a Bible Study
Leading 3 separate Bible studies.
Hosting guests
Maintaining my Podcast
Serving at church
Plus, normal life… doing laundry, cooking, sleeping, cleaning the bathrooms, paying bills…

I don’t know what’s on your list, but my guess is, you can relate!

As I finish up edits for UnSeen, I need some quiet space to think, pray, and discern where to go from here. Thanks for understanding, friend.

✅ Make sure you are following Beauty in the Brokenness wherever you listen to podcasts, so you don’t miss a thing when I return—I’ll be back soon 😉!

Listen Now

Watch this episode on YouTube.

We Discuss

• Celebrating 150 episodes of Beauty in the Brokenness! 🥳

• Closing out the Seen series

• A peek into Teresa’s heart and life behind the writing

• How she personally identified with Hagar, Leah, Tamar, Elizabeth, the bleeding woman, and the bent woman

• Discerning what’s next for Beauty in the Brokenness

Which of the six women in the Seen series resonated most with you and why?

How has this Seen series shaped or challenged your faith?

Links Mentioned:

📖 DisGraced: How God Redeems and Restores the Broken by Teresa Whiting — My first Bible Study! This would be great to work through while you’re waiting for UnSeen to come out!

📖 Essentialism by Greg McKeown—Mckeown has challenged me to evaluate exactly what comes next. I read it a few months ago and I’m still trying to wrap my brain around it. SO GOOD!!!

💛 Healing Power of Lament Workshop — June 13, 2026 (Sign up early to save your spot!)

The world is so noisy. I hope you take some time to rest, pray, and discern what is next for your life. And mostly, I pray that you can get quiet enough to hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit, telling you that you are seen, known, and loved.

I can’t wait to connect with you again soon!

♥️ T

If you're new here, this is my monthly(-ish) letter for all my favorite peeps. Welcome—I'm so glad you're here! If this was forwarded to you by a friend, you can subscribe below for some hope delivered straight to your inbox!

You guys!!! It has been THREE months since I sent this monthly-ish email. What in the actual world is going on??

It’s not for lack of writing! I’ve been working through my first-round edits of Seen. And while I stress out about not getting this monthly email out, Greg reminds me, “Everyone isn’t sitting around waiting for your email to arrive.” True!

In the spirit of this being a belated email, I’m going to start this one with my personal note!

maybe we’re not too late

I’ve been a writer since the sixth grade. When other kids were staying after school to practice sports or heading home to watch soap operas (it was the 80’s), I was one of a few students who was in Miss Stone’s creative writing club. She stood before the green chalkboard, with her short blonde hair and bright smile, teaching a handful of middle schoolers about character, plot, climax, and resolution.

A couple of years later, I was gifted my first journal — a red fabric-covered book with small teddy bears. My love for writing was solidified. My journals became a place where all the angst in me found an outlet; where I could dream, plan, hope, and (in later years, pray).

I don’t know when the desire to write professionally entered my mind, but I know it did because I nearly majored in journalism in college, before I pivoted to missions, and then counseling. (Don’t we all switch our majors a few times?)

When kids came, I threw myself into being a full time mom — while I continued to write furiously in my journals. Though I’ve written and taught Bible studies in our churches over the past 30 years, I always wanted to write for a wider audience. Now that my kids are all grown and out of the house, I’m fully pursuing that dream to write, speak, and teach the Bible.

But there is a voice that whispers on the regular, “It’s too late. You’re too old. You’ve missed your opportunity.” I look to my right and left and see others who have been at this for twenty or thirty years — who started when their kids were young, who are already widely known and have written multiple books — and the voice says, “If only you’d started sooner.”

But what if that voice is lying? What if I’m right on time?

What if the years of life, and the journals I’ve filled, and the experiences I’ve had, have been preparing me for this very moment? What if all the hurts and heartaches, the trials and tests, the growth and prayers have wrought in me something of more value than my twenty-five-year-old self could have ever known or shared? What if my own disappointments and losses have grown in me a compassion for my readers I didn’t have before? What if the scriptures that have guided me through the twists and turns of my life are not just for me — but to share with you? What if I’m not too late, but right on time?

What about you? What have you dreamed of doing but fear it’s too late for? Is it possible that God has been using these years of waiting to bring you to this very moment? Is it possible you’re not too late either? What if you’re right on time for the calling ahead of you?

You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity

by Francis Chan & Lisa Chan

Francis and Lisa Chan have a biblical and countercultural perspective on marriage. Rather than looking to your marriage for fulfillment, they say it can be an avenue to pursue a deeper relationship with God. They remind us that nothing on this earth lasts forever—not even marriage. In typical Chan style, they cut to the heart and challenge us to keep our eyes fixed on eternity, and living on mission.

“People accuse me of going overboard in preparing for my first ten million years in eternity. In my opinion, people go overboard in worrying about their last ten years on earth.”

“If you’d rather watch your kids grow up than see the face of your Savior today, you don’t grasp the beauty of God. If you worry about what would happen to your children if you were gone, you don’t understand the providence of God.” [see what I mean 😳 ]

Waiting Isn’t a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life

by Mark Vroegop

I’m waiting for a lot of things right now:
🙏🏼 Answers to prayers.
📞 A phone call from a friend.
📧 A response to an important email.
✈️ An upcoming trip.
🙌🏼 Our tax refund.

I don’t like waiting. What I didn’t realize until reading this book is that we can learn to not just endure waiting, but embrace it. It’s so much more than trying to distract ourselves until an answer comes. Waiting is an opportunity to lean into the Lord and learn to trust Him more.

”I’m trying to help you learn to live on what you know to be true about God when you don’t know what is true about your life.”

“What if waiting on the Lord is an act of hope-filled, gutsy faith?”

If you’re in waiting season (and who isn’t waiting for something right now?), this book will help you reframe your wait and make the most of it.

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

by Greg McKeown

“If you could do only ONE THING with your life right now, what would you do?”

McKeown has an illustration in his book that has stuck with me. It’s a circle with a bunch of small arrows shooting out in every direction. And next to that, he has a circle with one arrow shooting straight and tall. I wrote in the margin: this is me—pointing to the circle with arrows in every direction.

As someone who loves to do ALL. THE. THINGS., I desperately needed someone to spell out why pouring my energy in too many directions isn’t helpful. He has encouraged me to look at what I’m doing with an eye to eliminating everything that isn’t essential! All that to say, just get this book. It’s a YESSSSS!!!!

I had to restrain myself from putting twenty quotes in this email 😂:

“Well no, I’m sorry, we’re not going to do a thousand things that won’t really contribute much to the end result we’re trying to achieve.”

“Less but better.”

“If it isn’t a clear yes, then it’s a clear no.”

“What do I feel deeply inspired by?”
“What am I particularly talented at?”
”What meets a significant need in the world?”

When I look at what I’m already doing (outside of the non-negotiables: growing in my relationship with God and my family, taking care of my body, and the logistics of life) my list is out of control!

In light of what I’ve been learning, and my desire to do fewer things better, I need to make some changes. (One such change is in the podcast updates section below.)

blind date with a book

I was with a friend at the cutest little coffee shop, when I saw these for the first time. There were a variety of books wrapped in brown paper, stuffed with little goodies. Written on the cover was a hint of what the book was about (historical fiction/ cozy mystery…) They were labeled, “Blind Date With a Book”.

Aggghhh!!! How fun is that?! Of course, I couldn’t bring myself to buy one without knowing the book inside, but I decided that for the rest of this year, I’m going to give these as gifts! (It will be blind for the recipient but I will know what book they’re getting). I made my first one for a friend and it was so much fun to put together. I added a hot cocoa packet, a few teabags & honey sticks, a small chocolate bar, a hand-painted bookmark, and a couple of small stickers.

Have you ever seen one of these? Would you take a risk and buy one or do you need to know what you’re getting?

trust in the Lord and create beauty

One of my favorite discoveries I made in Bible study is found in Psalm 37:3, which says, “Trust in the Lord and do good.”

The literal, Hebrew meaning of the words “do good” are below:

do = create, make, accomplish

good = beautiful, pleasant, excellent, valuable (This is the word used in the garden when God created the world and pronounced it “good”.)

I don’t think it would be a stretch to say, “Trust in the Lord and create beauty.”

As image bearers, you and I are made to create beauty—not just for our own pleasure or the pleasure of God, but also to shine as light in the darkness. The world is full of chaos. Horrible things are happening. But we aren’t powerless. Rather than curse the darkness, we can be creators of beauty as we trust in the Lord. In doing so, we are shining God’s light in a dark world!

How has God wired you to create beauty? Is it with a paintbrush, or flowers, or food, or photos, or music? Is it through encouraging words, or caring for the needs of others? Is it by organizing a space to create order and calm? There are as many ways to create beauty as there are people in the world.

What is your favorite way to create beauty?

In light of the above sentiments… McKeown’s book: Essentialism, and the fact that I am eyeball deep in editing Seen, I’m pausing my weekly podcast update emails. Though I will still be producing podcast episodes, I will not be sending you an email reminder each week.

What this means for you: If you love listening to Beauty in the Brokenness, make sure you are following on your preferred podcast app.

If you watch it on YouTube, make sure you are subscribed. (I have some amazing guests coming up that you don’t want to miss 🙌🏼 !)

Follow on Apple. Follow on Spotify. Subscribe on YouTube

May 9, 2026 Saturday Sisters Feather Sound Church, Clearwater FL

May 24-25 LYFE Women’s Conference in Johnson City, NY

June 14 Healing Power of Lament Workshop - Online
We were going to pause this, but the workshops have been so helpful for attendees, we’ve decided to host them quarterly.

I’d love to bring a Graced Gathering to you! (Currently booking for 2026 & 2027) If you know a church, camp, or other ministry looking for a spiritually rich, Biblically rooted weekend of hope, healing, community, and connection, I’d love an introduction!

Thanks for reading to the end, friend! I pray that this month, you find ways to pursue your dreams, remove the non-essential things from your life, and create beauty!

♥️ Teresa

Hey friend! I know we’ve had this conversation before. But it just keeps coming up for me… and maybe for you too? Our hearts crave the simplicity, peace and joy promised by Jesus. But the taskmaster living in my head is never satisfied.

Brandishing his whip, he cries, “There’s so much to do. Resting is a waste of time. And wasting time is the cardinal sin. You cannot rest because that will make you unproductive. After all, you are only as valuable as your accomplishments.”

Am I the only one who hears this lie on the regular? 🙋🏽‍♀️

God has given us a weapon of truth to resist the lie. It’s a gift that provides freedom, and release from the taskmasters who relentlessly push for more. The gift is called Sabbath.

Sabbath says: “Stop! Not today, Taskmaster! Not today, slave driver! Today is set apart for the Lord, for rest and worship. Today is for reflection and restoration.”

God intended the Sabbath as a gift to be treasured, not a duty to be performed.

When we stubbornly refuse, or simply forget, or foolishly ignore God’s invitation to observe the Sabbath, we are turning our backs on God’s kindness and disobeying His command. When we think, “I’ve just got one more nail to hammer, one more wall to paint, one more email to send, one more call to make”— one inevitably turns to two which turns to twenty, and the good gift of Sabbath slips through our fingers like grains of sand.

God offers us more than just rest. He offers restoration. When we obey His command to observe the Sabbath, we experience the knitting back together of what has been torn, the mending of what has been broken, and the reorienting of our hearts around His goodness.

In today’s episode, we meet a woman bent under Satan’s oppression for eighteen long years. In an instant, Jesus heals her and sets her free…

On the Sabbath.

Listen Now

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Listen in for:

• A creative retelling of the hunched woman’s story

• The inseparable body/soul connection

• Jesus’ heart of restoration and His power to heal

• The gifts of Sabbath we often neglect

• Find the hunched woman’s story in Luke 13:10-17

  

  

• The Rest of God Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath is my all-time favorite book on Sabbath!

• But The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer is also incredible. And JMC’s Practicing the Way also gets an honorable mention 😂

• These books have shaped my understanding, challenged my habits and given me eyes to see the Sabbath in a more profound way. You will love them 😍!!!

Where do you need Jesus’ freedom in your life?

What might it look like for you to embrace the gift of Sabbath?

The Seen Series episodes are part of my upcoming Bible Study, UnSeen. As I approach the release of this book, I desperately need your prayers. Over the next few months, I’ll be sending it to both my editor and formatter. (I’ll also be staying up way too late, going cross-eyed, and making a million little changes 🤪.) I’d love to have it in hand in by mid-late summer.

Want to join me in praying for UnSeen?

The hunched woman’s story reminds me of how desperately I need the healing hand of Jesus in my life. Let’s pray for each other to lean in and embrace God’s precious and sacred gift!

♥️ T

"As for me, I will always have hope. I will praise you more and more."
Psalm 71:14

I love Psalm 71! It’s filled with truths about who God is and what He does for His kids. It reminds us that no matter how old or young we are, there is a place for us at the table. I want every young woman to hear of God’s goodness and power. And I want to remind every older woman that we need you. We need your voice, your honesty, your hope, and your stories of God’s faithfulness.

Psalm 71 also gives us one of the simplest, least expensive (ie: free 🙌🏼) prescriptions for anxiety. This psalm is rich with truth, hope, and practical suggestions for everyone living in this crazy, scary, broken, yet beautiful world!

Listen Now

Watch the episode on YouTube.

We Discuss:

• Why Psalm 71 is an anchor for anxious times

• What to say when you don’t know how to pray

• An honest plea to older believers

• What praise does to your nervous system

• How to hold on to hope, despite circumstances

• Free resources I’ve created for you! (See below 👇)

I’ve got two resources for you today!

The Sing Praise Playlist and the Soul Care Calendar. (It says 31 day but it’s only 30 days 😉!) I hope these gifts will point your heart to Jesus and help nourish your soul.

What would it look like to be an Elizabeth to someone in your life?

Where is anxiety threatening to steal your hope today — and what would it look like to praise your way through it?

I’m so glad you’re here, friend. Thanks for listening week after week!

♥️ Teresa

PS: Are you enjoying Beauty in the Brokenness? Want to help spread the word? Just leave BinB a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. This will send the message to others, and help me share the love 🫶🏽!

“I made up in my mind the enemy was either gonna torment me in this moment,
or I was gonna torment him by lifting up my hands and worshiping my king…”
— Myshel Wilkins

You guys!! If your faith needs a shot in the arm, you will be inspired by the passionate faith of today’s guest! Myshel Wilkins has a heart that has been wrecked by Jesus in the most beautiful way. In her darkest moment, she chose to sing God’s praise. Myshel shares her journey through 8 miscarriages, hidden brokenness, and how to cling to The Lord when everything in you wants to fall apart.

Listen Now

Watch this episode on YouTube.

We Discuss:

• Myshel’s story of waiting and worship

• The power of choosing worship over descending into the pit of bitterness

• The most important time to bow our emotions to the Lord

• Handling well-meaning (but terrible) advice

• The power of God’s Word to renew our minds

• Hope for those who haven’t gotten a “happy ending”

For Myshel Wilkins, faith has been the foundation of her life. As the daughter of a Ghanaian mother and a missionary father, she grew up leading worship in churches around the world. But it was personal heartache that propelled her to know God’s strength and goodness in a deeper way.

After college, Myshel toured as a vocalist with top Christian artists, including Mandisa, TobyMac, Matthew West, and Don Moen and was mentored by gospel legend CeCe Winans. But behind the spotlight, Myshel and her husband struggled with the hope of starting a family, even as they faced the heartbreaking possibility it might never happen.

Connect with Myshel :
Watch her music video Royal Roar (Be warned: You’ll want to watch it more than once 😉 !!)
Website: myshelwilkins.com
Instagram: @myshelmusic

In her book, Arise, Shine, and Conquer: 40 Days of Courage for Women, Myshel shares stories of pain, perseverance, and breakthrough. Blending personal testimony with biblical truth, she invites readers into the abundant, victorious life God has promised. She shares honestly about things we all deal with—overcoming fear, resisting temptation, cultivating gratitude, and breaking free from comparison.

What pit are you tempted to fall into right now?

What would it look like to live the free version of yourself?

I pray, no matter what news comes your way today, you choose to worship our faithful God.

♥️ Teresa

Tucked within the Christmas story is a beautiful and often overlooked woman. Just before the announcement of Jesus’ coming birth, we find another surprising pregnancy—one that often gets lost in the shadow of Mary’s miraculous conception.

In Luke 1:5–80, we meet Elizabeth, who has long since given up hope of bearing a child. She and Zechariah are too old for their prayer to be answered. And in a culture where women were valued based on the number of sons they produced, Elizabeth feels the sting of shame. But God looks upon her and removes her disgrace. He gives her a child in her old age, who is not only the answer to her prayer, but also the answer to the prayers of all who are awaiting the Messiah.

Her story reminds us all that God sees our shame and hears our prayers. He isn’t limited by things that might hold us back. He is the ultimate shame-lifter, and hope-giver. Where all feels barren, He can bring fruitfulness.

Listen Now

Listen to this episode on YouTube.

Listen in for:

• A creative retelling of Elizabeth’s story

• Identifying and resisting the lies of shame

• How age and timing don’t limit God

• A reminder that God answers long-held prayers

• Encouragement to pursue your calling…at any age

Mentioned on the episode:

• Find Elizabeth’s story in Luke 1:5-80

• If you haven’t subscribed to this weekly email, you can do so right here!
  ⬇️

  Subscribe now

Are there areas of your life where shame has held you back or made you feel unworthy?

What is something you believe God is calling you to, but fear you might be “too late”?

I pray that Elizabeth’s story reminds you that God’s plans cannot be stopped. His heart is to call you out of shame and invite you to live in freedom. Pursue His calling with your whole heart, friend. He will fulfill His purpose for you. You’re not too old, and it’s never too late.

♥️ T

“The certainty I have learned to embrace
is not the assurance that things will go my way…”

Do you know what it really looks like to anchor your hope in God when life feels uncertain? It’s not an easy lesson to learn! Drawing from raw personal experience and Psalm 146, we talk about why human hope always disappoints, what God's goodness actually means, and how opening our mouths in praise can reshape the way we see our circumstances.

Oh, and if you want to know the question, you’ll have to listen to the episode 😉!

Listen Now

Watch the episode on YouTube.

We Discuss:
• Why placing hope in humans will always let you down
• Where God’s goodness is rooted (hint: not our circumstances)
• Where to find our anchor when life is uncertain
• Why praise is a practical tool for reshaping your mind
• Living with hope rather than despair

Where have you been tempted to put your hope (a person, a system, an outcome) rather than God?

Will you stay true to the revelation that God is good, no matter what?

Are you enjoying Beauty in the Brokenness?

Want to help spread the word? Just leave BinB a 5-star rating and review on Apple podcasts. This will send the message to others, and help me share the love 🫶🏽!

Thank you, friend!
♥️ Teresa

After Episode 140 (Permission to Grieve), so many of you reached out asking when our next lament workshop would be. Good news — we have a date 🙌🏼!
If you aren’t in need of this right now, would you forward it to someone who could use it?

Do you feel alone in your grief, unsure how to process your pain? You’re not alone.
Have you ever learned the biblical language of lament? Most of us haven’t. 😢

As children, we felt deeply and expressed our grief freely. But we were hushed as babies, shushed as children. Over time, we learned to silence our sorrow.

We pushed our grief down, hoping it wouldn’t resurface. But like a beach ball held underwater, the farther we push it, the more forcefully it resurfaces. Our grief was never meant to be hidden.

God has given us the gift of lament—a sacred way to hold space for our pain, and the pain of others.

Lament invites us to bring our deepest hurts to God, wrestle with Him through our sorrow, and find healing — yet most 21st-century American believers are unfamiliar with this practice, even though over a third of the Psalms are songs of lament.

It’s time to rediscover this sacred gift—and step into the healing and hope God offers through the language of lament. ✨

Save My Seat

Are you asking yourself…
“Why can’t I handle this?”
“Why haven’t I gotten over it yet?”
“What’s wrong with me?”

You weren’t meant to handle this alone.
Grief has no timeline.

This transformative workshop will help you:

• Discover the Biblical practice of lament as a powerful tool for healing

• Learn practical, embodied techniques for processing grief that you can use every day

• Process your grief in a community of witnesses who will affirm and honor your pain

Your story can be good again.

I'm In!

Saturday March 14, 2026
Meeting on Zoom
10am - Noon
Only $97 (less than a therapy session!)

Your Workshop Leaders:

Brenda and Teresa would be honored to walk beside you on this journey. Whether you are grieving a loved one, a relationship, a dream, or a season of life, this workshop is for you. There is space for your grief, and there is grace for your journey. 💛

Sign Me Up

“All I have to do is keep reaching for Jesus…”
— Ashley Jameson

If you’ve ever been told, “There’s nothing wrong,” “It’s just anxiety,” or “It’s all in your head,” when you knew something wasn’t right—you’re not alone, and you’re not crazy!

In Episode 142, Ashley Jameson shares her journey of more than 20 years with a chronic illness that was dismissed by her doctors. She knows what it’s like to look fine on the outside while suffering inside, to stay silent after being labeled, and to feel unseen and unheard.

But her story doesn’t end there. Ashley found answers, healing, supportive community, and hope in Jesus, who sees and knows our suffering.

If you’re walking through chronic illness, betrayal, or any long painful season, this episode is for you.

Listen Now

Watch this episode on YouTube.

We Discuss:

• The pain of chronic illness and medical dismissal

• The mind-body connection in trauma recovery

• Setting boundaries to protect our health

• Finding our identity in God vs. relationships

• A clinical + biblical approach to healing

• Supporting those with chronic illness

Ashley Jameson is the Director of Programs and Partnerships for Pure Desire. She helps churches launch groups for men and women struggling with compulsive sexual behavior or betrayal. She advocates for the voiceless and creates safe spaces for honest, vulnerable conversations within the Christian community. Her work empowers men and women to heal from betrayal and addiction and embrace the life God has for them.

Additionally, Ashley’s personal experience with chronic illness resonates deeply with the bleeding woman.

Connect with Ashley:
Website: Pure Desire
Podcast: Unfiltered Podcast
Email: ashleyj@puredesire.org

If you enjoyed my conversation with Ashley, you’d love her podcast, Unfiltered: Real Talk About Sex & Love. She and her co-host, Heather, don’t pull any punches. Each week, you’ll hear real talk about sex and relationships from a biblical and clinical perspective.

• What mom doesn’t want a little help navigating conversations around sex? Thank you Ashley, for helping create a space for this kind of open talk between moms and daughters!

• Ashley also mentioned the Homes Rahe Life Stress Inventory—here’s the link I promised 😉!

How will you keep reaching for Jesus even when healing feels slow or uncertain?

What would it look like to care for your mind, body, and soul in a gentle, intentional way this week?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Hit reply or drop your answer in the comments!

♥️ Teresa

PS: We have a date for our next Healing Power of Lament Workshop! Keep your eye on your inbox…more info to come! 🗓️

Do you ever feel invisible in your suffering?

The story of the bleeding woman reveals Jesus' heart to heal not just our bodies, but our hearts and souls. After twelve years of physical suffering and social isolation, this unnamed woman risks everything to touch Jesus' garment. When she tries to slip away unnoticed, Jesus stops and turns to find her—not to shame her, but to give her a new identity. He calls her "daughter," transforming her from a woman defined by her affliction into a beloved child of God. This powerful encounter reminds us that we are seen, known, and loved by a Savior who turns toward us in our pain.

Listen Now

Listen to this episode on YouTube.

Listen in for:

• A creative retelling of The Bleeding Woman’s story

• Why physical healing isn’t enough

• How faith is greater than fear - even when it feels risky

• How Jesus changes our identity

Mentioned On the Episode:

• If you want to hear more like this, listen to episodes 122 & 123 with Dr Curt Thompson—they are some of my all-time favorite episodes!!

• To hear a creative retelling about this woman and Jairus’s daughter, listen to episode 41 - A Tale of 2 Daughters

• Find The Bleeding Woman’s story in the following passages: Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43, and Luke 8:40-56

Where do you need Jesus to turn toward you? And are you willing to approach Him, even if it feels uncomfortable?

What would change in your life if you claimed your identity as a beloved daughter of God?

I pray that this story reminds you how much Jesus loves you, and that His heart is turned toward you, even if your healing hasn’t come yet.

♥️ T

"We have permission to get loud with our lament.
To speak it, to cry it, to pound the floor."

Do you know how to truly process grief? I don’t mean pushing past it, burying it, staying busy, numbing out, or stuffing it down deep. I mean bringing it honestly to God.

God invites us to come just as we are—ugly tears and all.

He has given us a gift called lament. It’s a sacred language God gives us for the most broken parts of our stories. And yet, most of us have never been taught this powerful way to pray (even though over a third of the psalms are laments).

Sometimes, when we don’t know what to say, we need to borrow the prayers of others. David’s prayer in Psalm 142 gives us language for pain that feels overwhelming and unresolved.

Listen Now

Watch the episode on YouTube.

We Discuss:

• The definition of lament

• How Tamar models biblical lament

• Why quick fixes and numbing leave grief unresolved

• Four movements of lament from Psalm 142

• Creating safe spaces to lament

Is there something in your life you need to bring to God in lament today?

When and where could you practice lament this week? (In the shower? On a walk? In your journal?)

If you’re interested in joining us for a future Lament Workshop, you can reply or comment “lament” and I’ll add you to the waitlist.

Holding you in prayer,
♥️ Teresa